New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-08

improved methods IN the liquidation OF entries hsye
replaced those which before loose and unssti;
hsd ARE being Gn papdy disposed Of
that In short time it Is expected that tho ofcers
T Ss hsR ahH the
protests suits and refunds which have resulted aike
to tho advantage of tho Government and OF the mer
chants Interested
EXPENSE OF COLLECTING THE REVENUE FROM
CUSTOMS.
Tho expense Of collecting the revenue from customs
during tho last fiscal year was S8,s3029o 1o In
cludcd In this amount is $1oS,302 80 Of a deficiency
appropriation this account. This Is an increase
over tho expenses for the year 1856 of S4O26S3 10
The percentage OF cost to collections has, however
decreased from $50 per cent In 1856 10 3i2 per
cent in 1887.
The Secretary of the Treasury is required by the
nth section OF the act of August g. lo52 TO submit
annually, detailed estimates to Congress OF the cost
has been done regularly since that law went into
effect The object of this requirement, as then under
stood, that Congress might have the necessary IN
formation upon which TO base specific annual appro-
prations for this branch of the public service 40
such rtOn has, however. boen taken, although five
years have elapsed since the enactment Of this law
II Is, therefore, assumed that H. IS not the desire OF
mancnt annual appropriation for dciraying these ex
penses. II such be the case, 1t VIII be necessary 10
increase tho sum now appropriated by at least
, The present permanent appropriation was made 10y
tho act OF March 3, 1871, which provides an annual
may he received from fines, penalties. and forfcures
connected with the customs and from fees paid into
thr treasury by customs O'lrcrS ana from storage,
carriage, drayage, labor. and services Tho above
provided b. tho act Of May 3, 1856 Tho act Of 1877
thus increased the customs appropriation by $1,000 600
over 30 per cent, though the amount of business
had not increased 10 per cent In the intervening pc
Rod and the receipts from fines fees, &C, had very
largely increased.
sixteen years havo elapsed since the present per
mancnt appropriation was made. hut the conditions
upon which II was based have vastly changed. The
amounts available for the payment of customs cX-
penscs other than that drawn from the Treasury were
in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1871, as follows
From fnes pcna Hes ard northumberland. 1852 $40 IS
From fees ~ customs Officers. 5NfsS7 81
From storage, carriage, 40J50I %
~ changcs I'm tho statutes since that date the first
two accounts have greatly fallon or while the last
ono has responded to the Increase Of business. and
The exhibit for the fiscal year 1885, is as follows:
From hnes penalties and forcurcs $3.50 20j ~
From fees Of customs others ltlSl7 %
From storage carriage &c..-.............. 7+sOl+ w
TiV""V'i oo
Or reduction Of Ss95,Ol7 IS I'm the amount of money
annually available" for payment Of customs expenses
50 that a deficiency appropriation was necessary to
mcct tho expenses Of that year ON the other hand.
'he demands upon the appropriation have Increased
through tho great expansion OF business AT the princi
pal ports, tn" creation Of new ports and customs
districts and the large increase OF business at In
terror ports to which goods shipped from the
TO- l5rO. and subsequent acts.
A. tho port Of New York over twO-thlrds Of the
customs Is collected and the business there
fairly represents The business Of the whole country.
comparison ~ the main transactions AT that port IN the
fiscal years 1871 and leo7 IS thus presented